occasional en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /əˈkeɪʒ(ə)nəl/
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English occasyonal, from Medieval Latin occāsiōnālis and Old French ocasionel. By surface analysis, occasion + -al.
Meanings
-
Occurring or appearing irregularly from time to time, but not often; incidental.
He was mostly solitary, but enjoyed the occasional visitor.
He took an occasional glass of wine.
The highway to the East Coast which ran through the borough of Ebbfield had always been a main road and even now, despite the vast garages, the pylons and the gaily painted factory glasshouses which had sprung up beside it, there still remained an occasional trace of past cultures.
1963, Margery Allingham, “Ebbfield Interlude”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 95:But the truth is that plenty of artists from other countries make work that's bold, naughty or nasty, without getting more than a very occasional headline.
2003 April 17, Blake Gopnik, “Art That Advertises Itself; Saatchi's Ornate New Gallery Pits Young British Artists Against the Establishment”, in Washington Post:
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Created for a specific occasion.
Elgar's music was not created to be occasional music for high-school graduations.
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Intended for use as the occasion requires.
What your living room needs are some occasional chairs.
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Acting in the indicated role from time to time.
He is an occasional writer of letters to the editor.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most occasional | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more occasional | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
occasionalness · semioccasional · occasionality · occasionalist · occasionally · occasional table · occasional bookcase · unoccasional · occasional furniture · occasionalism
Synonyms
Translations (46)
de okkasionell (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · pt ocasional (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · nl toevallig (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · de gelegentlich (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · nl nu en dan (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ro ocazional (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · es esporádico (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ko 가끔하는 (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · cmn 偶然 (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · bg нередовен (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ja 偶 (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · mt okkażjonali (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ru случа́йный (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ja 偶発的 (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ru ре́дкий (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · sk občasný (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · nl indicenteel (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ja 偶然な (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · it occasionale (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · nl af en toe (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · fr occasionnel (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · bg случаен (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · hu alkalmankénti (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · pl rzadki (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · sv an adverb is most often used instead. (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · kw treweythus (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · nl occasioneel (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · sv ockasionell (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · es ocasional (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · cmn 偶爾 /偶尔 (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · pl okazjonalny (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · pl sporadyczny (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · sk príležitostný (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · gd corra (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · hu alkalmi (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · pl przypadkowy (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · cs příležitostný (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ar عَرَضِيّ (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · cy achlysurol (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · cs občasný (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ga ócáideach (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ca ocasional (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · hu esetenkénti (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · fi satunnainen (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · gv keayrtagh (limited to certain occasions; not very often) · ja 時折の (limited to certain occasions; not very often)